The championships of the 2024 Boulder Independence Day Tournament (IDT) were played on Sunday with titles given in the 18U, 16U and 14U age divisions.

The Boulder IDT is one of the top club softball events of the summer and began last Wednesday with pool games and concluded with bracket play over the weekend.

At the 18U Boulder level, Mike Stith’s OC Batbusters team was dominant offensively and on the mound, going 11-0-1 and scoring in double digits in five of its 12 games while the pitchers allowed only 16 runs in the dozen contests.

“It was a tough three weeks on the road,” Coach Stith recalls, “but culminated in our winning the Alliance Super Cup last Tuesday and then grinding through the IDT this week.”

“It was a complete team effort from everyone as it takes all of the players and their families to work together and keep the kids hydrated, fed and focused.”

The legendary club coach believes that events such as IDT are where players and teams grow the most.

“Teams grow up in the road as we get them away from their comfort zone and it has been a tried and true process for our programs success.”

Bill Conroy, founder and head of the Beverly Bandits organization, had the distinction of having two teams finish in the Top 3 of the 16U age division.

“I’m very proud of not only Chad Moran‘s team for winning the event but also Kyle‘s team (Kyle Hardin) for coming in third place,” he noted. “This is the 10th time the Bandits organization has won this event and it never gets old.”

Winning at IDT has special significance Conroy believes.

“Here you have quality competition in front of numerous college coaches and in such a scenic environment,” he continues.

“This tournament and PGF Nationals are the only tournaments that we really focus on and that also includes the Easton Rawlings tournament that we help host and which is a great event. Doing well at IDT and PGF Nationals is always our goal!”

At the youngest age level, the Aces 14U team coached by Joel Garcia also went undefeated, compiling a 10-0-1 record to capture the championship.

Organizational head Ryan Taylor foresees great success for his 14’s in the short and long terms.

“They’re an established group with a lot of high-level athletes who have continued to grow on the national level,” he told Line Drive Softball Sunday evening.

Here are the final scores with congratulations extended to the champions in the OC Batbusters, Virginia Glory, Beverly Bandits and Aces Fastpitch organizations…

*****

18U Boulder

*****

18U Louisville

*****

16U Longmont

*****

14U Broomfield

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